Volunteers of America Hires New External Affairs Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Vicki Bendure, Bendure Communications
540-687-3360 or vicki@bendurepr.com
David Burch, Volunteers of America
703-341-5054 or dburch@voa.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 2, 2018—Volunteers of America announced the hire of Brian Gavin as senior vice president, communications and marketing and the hire of Laura E. Sildon as senior director, corporate and foundation relations.
Gavin will lead Volunteers of America’s national communications and branding efforts. He was formerly with Lutheran Social Services in New York City, where he was vice president of advancement & communications. He has more than 15 years of high-level fundraising and marketing experience in the nonprofit sector, including a long tenure with Catholic Charities.
Sildon starts in a new position at Volunteers of America especially created to focus on bringing in new national funding partners to support Volunteers of America’s programs. She brings more than 20 years of strong fundraising and communications experience, including serving as the executive director of the Montgomery Youth Works and The First Tee, Montgomery County, and director of the HMSHost corporate foundation.
“We are delighted to add Laura and Brian to the Volunteers of America national team,” said Volunteers of America President and CEO Mike King. “Their backgrounds and experience will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”
Sildon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Gavin holds a Master of Arts in public communications from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Scranton. He is a member of the National Press Club and he resides in Alexandria.
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About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps almost 1.3 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.